Kalani Kaneko
Kalani Kaneko | |
|---|---|
Kaneko in 2025 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Marshall Islands | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Ading |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 May 1975 |
| Spouse | Lorraine |
| Children | Three |
| Alma mater | Post University |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Years | 1995-2015 |
| Rank | First sergeant |
Kalani R. Kaneko is a Marshallese politician and member of the Nitijeļā representing Mājro. A member of Kien Eo Am, as of February 2026, he is the minister of foreign affairs and trade.
Early life
Kalani R. Kaneko was born in Majuro on May 3, 1975. He graduated from Moanalua High School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Kaneko is married to Lorraine Aron with whom he has three children.[1] He entered the United States Army on December 28, 1995. He earned the highest badge in peacetime, the Expert Infantryman Badge on August 1998 at Fort Irwin National Training Center. Kaneko served as an infantryman from 1995 to 2001. He also served as a Military Police Sergeant. He was selected for recruiting duty on January 2001. In 2004, he was assigned as a station commander at Kauai Recruiting Station, Kauaʻi, Hawaii, with additional responsibility of recruiting efforts in the RMI. His final assignment was as the Portland Battalion Senior Master Trainer from 2011 to 2015. While in the Army, he earned both an associate degree in marketing and Bachelor of Science in business management from Post University. [1]
Political career
He was elected to the Nitijeļā in the 2015 election. A first time candidate, he finished fifth of thirteen candidates for one of five seats to represent Mājro. After her election to the presidency by fellow Nitijela members, President Hilda Heine appointed Kaneko the minister of health.[2] In 2018, he was a cosponsor of a law that created SOV, the first legal tender cryptocurrency in the world.[3] The SOV is meant to generate revenue for the Marshall Islands to develop its economy. While RMI has placed safeguards to register users, the IMF and United States have noted their concerns with the coin's potential to be used for money laundering and terrorist financing as well as the often unstable value of cryptocurrencies.[4] Kaneko was reelected in 2019 and 2023.
He was sworn in as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade on January 8, 2024.[5] He is the chairman of the advisory committee for the Veterans Administration for Compact veterans for a term ending in 2028.[6] As Foreign Minister, a priority has been ensuring the receipt of veterans benefits and healthcare for Marshallese veterans who reside in, the Marshall Islands.[7][8]
References
- ^ a b Chutaro, Emi, ed. (May 1, 2016). "PIHOA Executive Board Member Highlights". Pacific Island Health Officers Association. Retrieved February 22, 2026.
- ^ Labriola, Monica C. "Year in Review: Marshall Islands". The Contemporary Pacific. 29 (1). Center for Pacific Islands Studies: 111–118. ISSN 1527-9464. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ Light, Joe (December 7, 2018). "The Country That Bet On Crypto". Bloomberg Businessweek. No. 4596 – via EBSCO Information Services.
- ^ Nelson, Rebecca M. (July 30, 2019). "Examining Regulatory Frameworks for Digital Currencies and Blockchain" (PDF). U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- ^ Johnson, Giff. "President Hilda confirms Cabinet". The Marshall Islands Journal. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ Johnson, Giff (July 28, 2025). "Island military veterans hope for US action". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ "Risch, Moran, Schatz, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Expand VA Services to Veterans Residing in FAS" (Press release). U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. December 12, 2025. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
- ^ Paul, Charles R. (January 14, 2026). "Testimony of Ambassador Charles R. Paul" (PDF). United States House of Representatives. Retrieved February 17, 2026.